The Stormlight Archive #2
Words of Radiance
by Brandon Sanderson
Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl. The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives. Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined. Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.
Overview
Words of Radiance is the second volume of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, and widely considered the strongest entry in the series — one of the highest-rated fantasy novels on Goodreads.
Shallan Davar has finally arrived at the Shattered Plains, carrying dangerous secrets and a mission that could change the world. As she navigates the treacherous politics of the warcamps and searches for the legendary city of Urithiru, she begins to discover abilities she never knew she had.
Meanwhile, Kaladin struggles with his growing supernatural powers and the weight of leadership. Bound by his oath to protect Dalinar Kholin, he finds himself caught between duty and a deepening political conspiracy. Dalinar himself pushes toward an alliance with the enemy Parshendi, even as those around him question his sanity.
Themes
- Truth and deception — Shallan’s dual identity and the lies that define her
- The burden of power — Kaladin’s reluctance to embrace what he’s becoming
- Unity against division — Dalinar’s impossible diplomatic mission
- Identity — Who we choose to be versus who we were born as
Why Read It
The pacing tightens considerably from The Way of Kings. Sanderson delivers one of the most celebrated climactic sequences in modern fantasy — the final 200 pages are relentless. Shallan’s character comes fully into her own, and the expansion of the magic system is deeply satisfying.
“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”